More senior Oregonians, those with disabilities, to become eligible for in-home service

Thanks to a thumbs-up from a federal agency, more older adults and people with disabilities in Oregon could receive more options for support to continue to live independently in their own home.

The Oregon Health Authority said Thursday, Aug. 15, that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had OK’d the expansion of a program within the Oregon Department of Human Services. That means Oregon can launch a new version of Oregon Project Independence supported by Medicaid funds.

The program expansion will begin by serving individuals who have been on waiting lists for support from Project Independence. New applications for services could be accepted as early as spring 2025.

Project Independence provides limited in-home services to people who need help to continue living independently in their own homes. Offered services include housekeeping, personal care, Meals on Wheels, case management, assistive technology and more.

The Oregon Health Division “is committed to providing Oregonians with options that best fit their needs,” said Nakeshia Knight- Coyle, Project Independence director. “For many, the expansion of Oregon Project Independence means they will be able to stay in their current home for years to come.”

Project Independence was among the first programs of its kind when it was introduced in Oregon in 1975, according to the Health Authority. As it has expanded, it continues to be among only a few programs like it nationally.

The new program, which is called Oregon Project Independence — Medicaid , will provide an option for older adults to receive Medicaid-funded services without any estate-recovery requirement following a recipient’s death, according to the release. Estate recovery requires that the assets recipients leave behind following their death are used to cover the cost of the services received.

The new program also increases the income limit for individuals to qualify for Medicaid-funded services and supports. This means that more people could qualify for in-home services and supports.

Eligibility for the new program will be open to adults with physical disabilities aged 18 and older, as well as individuals aged 60 and older, who meet specific criteria, including income and asset limits.

People who earn incomes too high to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan may qualify for the new program because its income limit is 400% of the federal poverty level, which is higher than the Health Plan income limits.

The Oregon Health Plan cover about 1.4 million Oregonians. It is Oregon’s version of Medicaid, the joint federal-state program for low-income people and some people with disabilities.